Iranians shouting slogans and marching as they mourn the day after the assassination of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (posters), who was killed in joint US and Israeli strikes, in Tehran on March 1, 2026. (Credit: AFP)
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as well as several other high-ranking Iranian officials and military commanders were killed in a massive U.S.- Israeli strike on Saturday as part of a joint large-scale military operation launched against the Islamic Republic in the early hours of that same day.
These attacks sparked Iranian retaliation against Israel and the Gulf countries who host U.S. military bases. On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News that 48 Iranian officials have been killed since the start of the offensive.
L'Orient Today has compiled a list of the main Iranian senior leaders killed in the U.S.-Israeli offensive so far:
Ali Shamkhani, Adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei:
Shamkhani, who had recently been appointed as the secretary of Iran’s Defense Council, was overseeing the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran over the latter's nuclear program, which were still ongoing before the war broke out in the early hours of Saturday. He had sustained severe injuries from an Israeli strike during the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June 2025. Shamkhani led the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) for a decade until 2023 and served as defense minister between 1997 and 2005.
Amir Nasirzadeh, Iran's Defense Minister:
For decades, Nasirzadeh rose through the ranks of the Iranian Army Air Force, before attaining the rank of brigadier general in 2012. He also served as Chief of Staff of the Iranian Army Air Force between 2009 and 2017. In 2018, he was appointed as Commander of the Iranian Army Air Force for four years. Nasirazadeh was also appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces in 2021. Three years later, he was appointed defense minister. The Israeli army says that he was responsible for “industries producing long-range missiles and weapons transferred to regime proxies, as well as for the SPND organization," which is a research and development agency of Iran's Defense Ministry.
Abdul Rahman Mousavi, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces
Mousavi, one of the most prominent military leaders in the Islamic Republic, became Chief of Staff of the Army in 1999 and rose through senior command roles until he was appointed as Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces in 2025, succeeding Mohammad Bagheri after Bagheri’s death in an Israeli strike on Tehran during the 2025 conflict.
He also held other leadership positions, including President of the Imam Ali Military University, Commander of the Army Headquarters in northeastern Iran, Deputy Commander of the Ground Forces for Training Affairs, and Head of the Army’s Strategic Studies Center.
Mohammad Pakpour, IRGC commander:
Pakpour was appointed as commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in June 2025, replacing Hossein Salami, who was killed at the start of the 12-day war. Earlier in his career, he rose through the ranks before becoming the IRGC Ground Forces commander in 2010. The Israeli army claims that Bakbour led “Iran’s plan to destroy Israel” and was responsible for "missile and drone attacks on Israel, supporting Iran’s proxy groups, and effectively commanded the violent suppression of Iranian protesters during the internal protests last month.”
Salah Asadi, chief of intelligence:
Asadi worked as the head of the intelligence department in the military emergency headquarters and was a senior intelligence officer in the Iranian General Staff. The Israeli army claimed that he was also involved in "Iran's plan to destroy Israel."
Mohammad Shirazi, chief of Khamenei’s military bureau:
Shirazi had been the chief of Khamenei’s military bureau since 1989. According to the Israeli army, he was responsible for “the liaison between the senior commanders of the armed forces and the leader, and was a central figure in the top ranks of the Iranian terror regime.” Al Jazeera reported that Shirazi was always present alongside Khamenei.
Hossein Jabal-Amelian, chairman of SPND:
Citing television channel Iran International, Al Jazeera reported that Amelian headed the naval industries of the IRGC. In a statement, the Israeli army said that Amelia is the chairman of SPND, The Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research of the Defense Ministry. According to the Israeli army, Amelian was responsible for “developing advanced technologies and weapons,” and had, over the years, advanced “projects in the fields of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.”
Reza Mozafari-Nia, commander in the Revolutionary Guard:
IRGC commander Reza Mozafari-Nia was also the former head of Iran’s SPND organization. The Israeli army claims that he “advanced efforts to develop nuclear weapons.”
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's former President (unconfirmed)
An Iranian politician and former President of the Islamic Republic of Iran from 2005 to 2013. He insisted on Iran’s right to possess nuclear energy and pursued a path described as “hardline” domestically, which angered reformists. He frequently threatened Israel’s destruction and regularly denied the existence of the Holocaust. Shortly after the end of his presidency, he was appointed a member of the Expediency Discernment Council, which is considered the highest political arbitration body in Iran. His killing was announced by several Israeli and Iranian news outlets, although some Iranian sources are disputing reports of his death.
Humanitarian convoy reaches Rmeish, Ain Ibl, Dibil despite obstacles
